A Terrifying Taste of Short & Shivery Book Review

A Terrifying Taste of Short & Shivery Book Review - Reviewed by Kidzworld on Dec 27, 2006

( Rating: )

Looking for something a little creepy? How about thirty tales of eerie places and spooky sites. Campfire tales and stories for lonely nights, dont shudder in fear without it!

Author: Various, retold by Robert D. San Souci

In the mood for a little something creepy? Then A Terrifying Taste of Short & Shivery is for you. This book features 30 different horror stories. It's full of monstrous Ogres from Japan, creepy creatures from Africa, ancient legends from England and ghosts from the world over. You'll find something to put a chill in your spine no matter how tough you think you are.

The Bottom Line

Each tale of terror is a quick read - usually between two and seven pages long. They're perfect for a bus trip to school, a camping trip with your friends or a quick read with lunch. If you're feeling mean you can sneak up to your little brothers bedroom door and whisper horror stories to him when he's trying to go to sleep. There are even pictures to go with the stories, which help bring the creatures to life.

((Author's note: Inspired by Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. Edits and suggestions are accepted in the comments. If you would like to add on to this and continue writing it yourself, I will create a master post of the finished product and may include suggestions and other people's work, whom I will credit. Thank you.))
After the battle to banish the Empire succeeded,
The pony of shadows now for a thousand years gone,
The feasts of celebration were well underway,
And the Princesses rejoiced that the battle was won.
Star Swirl the Bearded, great wizard of old,
Had remained there as long as he may,
But as soon as he rose, the hall to leave
There came an event that forced him to stay.
A figure stepped in from the midst of a storm:
The doors were flung open with tremendous might
By a stallion of stature like never before seen
His presence alone dimmed the room’s light.
His hooves pounded the floor and forced it to crack
Legs like tree-trunks, and a voice like thunder
His eyes flashed like stars underneath his hood
All present had their composures thrown asunder.
“Greetings!” The unicorn cried to the thrones.
“I have traveled from the Northland’s wastes
To meet the Sisters of much I have heard
And so I have arrived, coming with haste.”
Celestia bowed with grace to this stranger
“We accept you in our halls, you are to be certain
You will be welcome as long as you stay.
But I request you tell of your journey and all it may pertain.
Begin with your name, if you please,” she concluded.
And the unicorn nodded in acceptance.
“Of course. You behold Polaris, a messenger
For my people, and have come to pay penance
To the rulers of our far away neighbors.
I am the chieftain of my tribe in the North,
Masters of snow and flame in our magic.
But now we are in need, and I have come forth
To beg of you your assistance.”
He bowed in his head, in pleading he waited
While averting his eyes to the ground.
Not wanting the Princess to know what was unstated.
Star Swirl arose, proudly he stood,
His horn lit aflame to point to the sky.
“Of course we will help! I’ll accompany you myself!”
He did not pause to ask Polaris why.

Yeah, I really think schools should change their teaching methods. Every year, when I take the standardized tests, I see again and again at least 40% of the test something the teachers never taught. It also doesn't really give you much stuff you actually will need beyond high school, unless you plan on being an ultimate master-of-all-subjects in college and want to try every single job out there at least once. Maybe then.